Christmas shopping sprees delivered a welcome boost for Burberry today as the luxury brand announced forecast-beating sales, sending its shares to the top of the FTSE 100 index.

After dire results last year and a profits warning, the British brands’ third-quarter update revealed sales were ahead 6% at stores open at least a year while retail sales jumped 13% to £464 million. The shares strutted up more than 4%.

Gifts including cashmere mufflers, scarves and iPad accessories flew off the shelves as shoppers splashed out on expensive presents. Chief executive Angela Ahrendts said the group had a “particularly strong week in the run-up to Christmas”. Fears of a slowdown in China were quashed as the group reported renewed demand.

Menswear demand also soared, with tailoring sales growth up nearly 50%.But the wholesale business suffered, bringing overall reported sales growth to 7% at £613 million for the three months to January.

The luxury group is continuing its store opening plan — it already has more than 200 shops — and will open three new stores in Shanghai in the next year. Cartwright said the group has been “ecstatic” about the performance of its Burberry World flagship, which opened in London last year.